Providence
An Ian Donnis story has been picked up by the nationally broadcast NPR programmers. The battle of the struggling city, with its socially mobile mayor, and the liberal Ivy League school is, not surprisingly, of broader interest than just to those within Donnis’s usual broadcasting range. Viewed from the other side of the political street…
I don’t think that I can add much to the story in Sunday’s Providence Journal about what looks like an attempt at “pay for play“. Sam Zurier, the Councilman from Providence’s Second Ward (East Side) is alleged to have been trying to shake down a couple of constituents for a campaign donation after he got…
GoLocalProv did some very good research last June. Just over half of all taxes collected in Providence in 2010 were owed to pensions and benefits for all city retirees—sucking money away from basic services and adding to the property tax burden, according to new data obtained by GoLocalProv. Now, local taxes do not comprise the…
As Andrew mentioned, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras held a press conference this morning and painted a grim picture for Providence unless some remedies are found to close the budget gap. Ian Donnis summarizes – Taveras says the city is pursuing an expedited state Supreme Court review of Super Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter’s decision barring the…
Whether you’re into Twitter or not, the best immediate coverage of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras’ hastily-called press conference on Providence’s dire fiscal situation came from the members of the RI media who Tweeted it as it happened. Erika Niedowski (Associated Press):Taveras mentions possibility of bankruptcy, saying ‘everything is on the tableIan Donnis (Rhode Island Public…
The principles underlying debate about Providence’s ability to suspend the cost of living adjustments (COLAs) of its public-sector retirees are fascinating. On one hand, we’re told that they’re contractual, unlike the state-level pensions, which are legislated: Unlike state-level public employee pension benefits, which are set by state law, municipal retirement benefits are incorporated in collective-bargaining…
Honestly, something about Governor Chafee’s fact-finding missions makes me very nervous. Consider this, from his latest trip, to Pittsburgh. It focuses on the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), which is attracting all sorts of federal money and expanding the prominence of the University’s medical program: Dr. Edward Wing, now dean of medicine and biological…
What am I missing in this story? Providence teachers on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to approve a three-year contract that guarantees that every fired teacher will be returned to the district in exchange for substantial concessions. But: The unprecedented decision to fire every teacher and close five schools left teachers and parents angry and demoralized. Although…
Monique’s already expressed a justified skepticism about this: Former firefighter John Sauro remains permanently and totally disabled from doing his job in the Fire Department, an orthopedic surgeon has concluded after a special examination. But the surgeon recommended additional tests to confirm his finding. The report by Dr. Anthony DeLuise Jr. was submitted Wednesday to…
A recurring theme arose when the Providence School Board voted to eliminate administrator unionization: [Stephen Kane, executive secretary of the Association of Providence Public School and Staff Administrators] now worries that the fate of each administrator will be left to “the whim of the School Board. Of course, it’s going to get personal. It’s going…